Effects of Enriched Environment on Locomotion and Cognition in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.
- Author:
Shin Seung YANG
1
;
Min Kyun SOHN
;
Bong Ok KIM
;
Pil Soon CHOI
;
Sung Gyum KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Korea. mksohn@cnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Enriched environment;
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy;
Neonate;
Rat
- MeSH:
Achievement;
Adult;
Animals;
Brain;
Carotid Arteries;
Cognition;
Dendritic Spines;
Extremities;
Hippocampus;
Humans;
Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain;
Infant, Newborn;
Inhalation;
Learning;
Locomotion;
Memory;
Oxygen;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2010;34(1):1-9
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of environmental enrichment on the cognitive and motor development in the experimental hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy neonatal rat model. METHOD: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy models were made in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats at 3 days of age by ligating the unilateral carotid artery followed by inhalation of 8% oxygen and raised in the enriched environment (n=10), treadmill exercise (n=8) and non-stimulation (n=10) from the 3rd to 8th weeks of age. Neurobehavioral and histopathological changes were compared. RESULTS: The neurobehavioral tests of the rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy showed prolonged latencies of achievement for cliff avoidance and negative geotaxis (p<0.05). Persisting abnormality into adult life of limb placing improved in exercise and enriched environment groups and spatial learning and memory in a water maze recovered in the rats with enriched environment (p<0.05). The density of dendritic spine increased in the hippocampus with enriched environment (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study supports the possibilities of the positive effects after the enriched environment in the developing brain with hypoxic injury.
